One hundred years ago in 1922, the Vauxhall Drawing Office had been working flat out on new models. The all new M type 14hp was launched into a new market segment for Vauxhall, in an attempt to follow the trend for smaller cars. Priced at £650, it was substantially cheaper than the previous, larger Vauxhall models.
By late 1922, engineering work on the overhead valve D type, the OD or 23-60, was complete with production already underway. And there had been the 1922 TT cars, a massive project for the Drawing Office, although with considerable help from Harry Ricardo, mainly on the unique engine.
Financially, the Company was struggling. A loss of almost £222,000 in 1921 was narrowed to a loss of £76,700 in 1922. Car output was up to 637, from 479 the previous year, driven mainly by the M type. Productivity however, was low. With 1390 employees, the batch production process could not compete with the new assembly line approach being adopted by Austin, Ford and Morris, for example.
By late 1922, engineering work on the overhead valve D type, the OD or 23-60, was complete with production already underway. And there had been the 1922 TT cars, a massive project for the Drawing Office, although with considerable help from Harry Ricardo, mainly on the unique engine.
Financially, the Company was struggling. A loss of almost £222,000 in 1921 was narrowed to a loss of £76,700 in 1922. Car output was up to 637, from 479 the previous year, driven mainly by the M type. Productivity however, was low. With 1390 employees, the batch production process could not compete with the new assembly line approach being adopted by Austin, Ford and Morris, for example.
